In the early hours, when the zoo was closed, the group broke into the state-run attraction. They took the black stallion, the only one of its kind at the zoo, from its pen and then chopped the animal up in a secluded spot.

Staff later arrived to a shocking scene, finding the horse’s head and ribs, in a pile.

The Venezuelan zoo where the horrid incident took place. (Picture: Alamy)

This is not the first time the zoo has been targeted with pigs and sheep being stolen earlier in July.